An early morning shooting in Orange Walk Town on Gravel Lane - a street off the Belize Corozal Road - resulted one man being killed and the other seriously injured.

On Saturday, May 12, at around 4:00 a.m., a lone gunman on a bicycle opened fired on Luis “Pais” Cardenas, 23, and Deon Hyde, 36, while they were said to be socializing at a house that is knowingly the residence of Amin Mendez.

According to those living in the area, as much as eight shots were fired; of which one fatally struck Cardenas, who police say was in a hammock under the veranda of the house.

Hyde, who we understand had just arrived at the house prior to the shooting, was also critically injured. He was hit four times: to the back, to the buttocks, to the left ribcage and to the right arm.

After being shot, Hyde ran across the street and into the neighbor’s fenced yard and then unto the veranda where he collapsed near to the door.

While on the ground, Hyde begged for help as he bled profusely. The occupants of the house remained in the house while they heard Hyde crying in pain; still, they were unaware that someone else (Cardenas) had been shot just across the street.

In less than 10 minutes, Orange Walk Police arrived after they were alerted by an emergency call made by one of the residents in the area.

At around 6:00 a.m. neighbors witnessed the motionless body of a man being carried by police from the Mendez residence to the Northern Regional Hospital.

Upon arrival, Cardenas was pronounced dead and Hyde, who had also been transported to the NRH, was in the operating room undergoing surgery - a surgery which eventually saved his life.

Currently, Hyde remains at the NRH recovering from his injuries though reliable sources have indicated that he is not co-operating with the authorities and their investigations.

In 2008, Cardenas was charged with robbery and the attempted murder of Alfredo Urbina and he was also wanted by the police for questioning for the murders of Jose Ricalde and Nazim Romero.

Two persons have so far been detained for questioning at the Orange Walk police station as police continue with their investigations.